Pajaro River Watershed
The resource/regulatory agencies and the Corps agreed early in the planning process that acceptability of the lower Pajaro River project design was dependent upon good faith efforts to address upper Pajaro River watershed issues that could threaten the lower Pajaro River project.
These concerns include increased development and increased stormwater flows from impervious surfaces, loss of Soap Lake as a key upstream flood detention basin, excessive sediment coming through the lower Pajaro River system, and other long-term threats to the viability of a lower Pajaro River flood protection project of any design.
Pajaro River Watershed
The Pajaro River Watershed comprises 1,310 square miles over parts of four counties. The river flows from the upper watershed in Santa Clara and San Benito counties and drains into the Monterey Bay as it runs between Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties, forming their county line.
